1. ACHPER PDHPE HSC Enrichment Days 2009
Option 2
Sport and Physical Activity in Australian Society
SPAAS
Introduce yourself.
Remember that this topic has lots of great examples that come up everyday in the media.
Good idea to collect a scrap book of articles and relate them to the appropriate areas of the syllabus, some articles will cover multiple facets of this syllabus option.
Remind students to remember which option they have studied and to choose the option they have covered in class, as they will not have as much experience or syllabus knowledge as the students who have studied it. Hence,you are much more likely to receive poor marks for their effort.

2. The Emergence of Sport as a Commodity
Whilst it is well known that Alcock captained England against Scotland on the football field in 1875, Mr Booth points out that he was a double international (of sorts) as he once played international cricket, though curiously for France against Germany in Hamburg under an assumed French name! This was hardly 'playing the game' in the best Harrovian tradition. He also captained the first FA Cup winning side (the Wanderers, who beat the Royal Engineers in 1872) though admittedly they only had to win one tie to reach the final itself. Alcock was not an uncritical admirer of all ball games, regarding lawn tennis as 'an effeminate amusement' seducing the youth of England from the more manly summer game.
It is on his achievements behind the scenes as an administrator rather than on the field of play that Alcock's reputation rests. Amongst the photographs reproduced is one of the restored monument in the cemetery and another of the inscription on it recording his inspiring work as Secretary of both Surrey CCC and the FA. It is Mr Booth's contention, however, that Alcock primarily regarded himself, not as administrator, but as a journalist. Citing census returns and marriage and birth certificates, he shows that this is the profession that Alcock invariably proclaimed when asked.
His contribution to the development of sports journalism is identified by Mr Booth as one of his four main achievements alongside his work to introduce 'the competitive device', international fixtures, and professionalism. Alcock founded and edited magazines dedicated to both football and cricket but his main literary achievement is claimed to be 'Surrey Cricket: Its History and Associations' which he edited with Richard Webster (Viscount Alverstone) (see FOWNC Newsletter No. 26), with Alcock undertaking the majority of the work.
The FA Cup competition was his idea, based upon inter-house games he participated in at Harrow. Previously, all football matches were played solely for glory. In cricket, curiously, Alcock opposed the introduction of a similar knockout cup competition in 1873, ninety years before this innovation was finally achieved. Mr Booth muses that the reactionary position may have been more that of the Surrey committee Alcock served, rather than his own. This may be being too kind to Alcock, who might simply not have been radical enough to propose such a major change in the operation of the older game that already had the county championship to provide the competitive stimulus.
Alcock organised both the first Anglo-Scottish football fixtures in the 1870s. He also organised England's first home Test Match (at his beloved Oval of course) in 1880 but only after conducting a 'Kissinger-style' diplomatic mission. This took him to Canterbury (to persuade Lord Harris to captain the side), to Brighton (to persuade the Sussex committee to forego their fixture against the tourists), and finally to Scotland (to recruit two of England's finest amateur players who were happily slaughtering the local grouse).
Although from a gentleman-amateur, public school background, Alcock was amongst the first to realise that sport was becoming a business. He had the foresight to realise that professionalism in football was inevitable and needed to be recognised and controlled. Only in this way could the schism that was to afflict rugby for a century and the shamateurism that was rife in cricket, where the expenses paid to 'amateurs' often exceeded the pay of the professionals, be avoided. When Alcock first played, the game was one where leading fixtures were played between all-amateur teams in public parks with no general agreement about whether players could hack opponents or even catch the ball. He oversaw its evolution to one with codified rules, dominated by professional clubs and where the first £1,000 transfer of a footballer occurred in 1905.

3. The Development of Professional Sport
Australian Sport was influenced by British class-ideologies for nearly 100 years.
British believed sport should serve a moral purpose of creating individual character and team co-operation.
Money and sport should not mix.
Rapid transformation in sporting culture in the television era (1970’s).
British idealologies derived inspiration in part from the gentleman amateur to a more American capitalist or global model.

4. Amateur v’s Professional
Amateur was not only a term for a category of player but also implied a different set of meanings about the value of sport.
Amateur sport was perceived by its middle class participants and spectators to be its potential to develop a sound character and create good citizens – the main reason for its popularity in private schools.
For working class players and spectators sport was much more about entertainment and a way of earning extra money through gambling or prize money.
E.g. Boxing troupes travelling the country side. Cricket, Rugby Union and AFL were popular and attracted large crowds who paid to watch.
“Amateur sport was good, wholesome and worthwhile, it imbued its participants with the traits of fair play, modesty in victory, dignity in defeat and sportsmanship – all essential elements in the development of character. On the other hand, professional sport was primitive, unworthy, and dangerous, as it was associated with gambling, and was open to cheating, bribery and corruption. The professional, motivated by reward alone, could not hope to aspire to the ideals of the amateur.” (Cashman, 2005 p:60)
Complete Activity 1
Workbook Answers:
Problems:
Since these were amateur games the money made by the clubs never reached the players
For working class men injuries or playing away from home meant days off work and loss of income. This was not a problem for those self employed or with a private income.
Consequences:
These problems created tension between the two groups of players
Solutions:
Establishment of breakaway professional semi professional codes of football.
1897 Victorian Football League established (breakaway from the Victorian Football Assc)
1906 NSW Rugby League established

5. The Development of Professional Sport cont..
Soccer – a different story
Was introduced in King’s School Sydney as a strictly amateur sport.
HOWEVER once it became popular as a sport with the miners in the coalfields of the Hunter Valley and NSW South Coast it developed as a semi-professional working class sport and was dropped from the private school curriculum.
Middle class sports such as cricket, rugby union, rowing, tennis and golf maintained a strict amateur code well into the 20th C.

6. Sport as BIG Business Sport and business have been linked for
a long time e.g. gate takings in the late 19th C.
More recently the extent has grown enormously.
Linked to mass media, in particular TV.
As spectators grew, business saw potential and profits in linking their companies and products with sports and sports people, who in Australia are at icon type level.
Internet, newspapers, radio
Aust. Elevates sports players high than many
Complete Activity 2
Q4 responses
Commodity is something that is purchasable/tangible
the idea that sport and sport products can be bought and sold in the marketplace for profit.*including players
Q5 responses
It started with tobacco and alcohol companies together with sports clothing and equipment manufactures – Tobacco sponsorship of sport was banned in 1992.*Except for F1 racing at this time. However it eventually came on board. There is an article in your workbook about this issue for you to read over in your own time.

7. Sport as BIG Business
With the introduction of TV in the 50’s and colour TV in the 60’s, the potential for sport to be developed as a commodity increased enormously.
TV producers and sports administrators quickly recognised that in “sports mad” Australia, sports events, players, logos, sportswear and equipment as products that could be exchanged for profit, i.e. they could be bought and sold.
E.g. Money paid to televise events – the single largest income for the past 3 Olympics has been TV rights.
Whole teams bought and sold e.g. Sydney Swans and players can sell their success together with personalities to sponsors in exchange for money, sport clothes and other goods.
*Beijin Olympics changed the swimming scheduled just so it could fit in with TV viewing times. Don’t worry about the athletes!
*Ricky Ponting: Commonwealth Bank, Valvoline, Ford, KFC, Rexona, Vitamins ad
Complete Activity 3
Responses
The first requirement is the ability to attract a huge spectator following.
David Rowe (1999) summarised the basis for the development of an economy of sport:
Sporting clubs and associations formed with paying members
Competitors were established with attractive prize money
Imposing venues with large crowd capacities were built
A professional work force developed which had to be managed via valuations and transfer regulations
State funds were donated to the development of sport
Sportswear and fan merchandise were manufactured and sold*
Newspapers, magazines, newsreels, films, radio and later, TV programs were devoted to sport

8. Sponsorship and Sport
Grounds, equipment, organising and publicising events, travel, prize money and increasingly, administration and support staff require more money than is likely to come from fees from participants at a lower level.
As operational costs increase sports are more reliant on the private sector and to a lesser extent, the government. e.g. Vodaphone stadium for the Ford Australian Open Tennis titles
Total sponsorship in Australia = over $90 million dollars

9. Sponsorship and Sport
Companies sponsoring sport expect either sales to increase or the association with a worthwhile community activity to increase exposure.
Sponsorships could be; scholarships, uniforms, equipment, venues, promotional and managerial advice and signage.
It extends from the elite level to local club and school competitions.
Complete Activity 4:
Responses
Live TV coverage to millions, with an increase in popularity of sports
Development of a sports industry – handles all the products; from T-shirts to coffee mugs
Shift from amateur clubs run by ex-players and local businessmen who were fans to organisations run by paid administrators and support staff
Complicated contracts between players and clubs have created specialists lawyers and managers who handle the affairs of the players
Dependence by sports on large investors like alcohol and fast food industries
Dominance of professional sport on TV and radio i.e. traditional male team sports and big prize money sports like tennis and golf. Sports pursued by women, children, cultural minority groups and people with disabilities rarely make it to TV. So this means no sponsorship because they are unable to provide the sponsors with attractive media coverage.
Disruption of competitions when different sponsors have conflicting demands. e.g. Kelloggs and Uncle Toby’s over sponsorship of the Iron Man contests in 1989 meant athletes couldn’t compete against a rival competitor from the other sponsors competition. Individual athletes in the Australian Olympic team are expected to wear the sponsors clothing and equipment e.g. adidas*(related article provided in your booklet)

10. Athletes and Advertising
Top helmet Lewis Hamilton F1 driver
Bottom helmet ex F1 driver Micheal Schumacher

11. Athletes and Advertising
Competing and winning at the elite level is a full-time job.
Demands of training do not allow time for any other income earning occupation. With the demanding workload, cost of coaching, venues, traveling and extra food, sponsorship is essential.
This is related to performance and with such a short time at the top it can be a major problem
Workbook Activity:
Students may come up with a variety of examples. If they are stuck for inspiration refer them to the article:
ATHLETES SELL SKIN SPACE TO ADVERTISERS.

12. IN CONCLUSION Remember the 6 P’s. Perfect Preparation Prevents Poor
Always use syllabus terminology. Practice using past paper HSC questions.
Remember the 6 P’s.
Perfect
Preparation
Prevents
Poor
Personal
Performance
Congratulations!
Remind students to remember which option they have studied and to choose the option they have covered in class, as they will not have as much experience or syllabus knowledge as the students who have studied it. Hence are much more likely to receive poor marks for their effort.
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